Whole Blood Ascorbic Acid Levels in Chickens with Experimental Aplastic Anemia and the Effect of Supplemental Ascorbic Acid, B12, and Minerals on Mortality and Pathologic Manifestations

Abstract

THE hemorrhagic and anemic manifestations of aplastic anemia in chickens resulting from sulfaquinoxaline toxicity described by Sadek et al. (1955) and Sanger et al. (1956) are similar to lesions reported for scurvy in man, guinea pig and monkey by Duncan (1947) and Jolliff et al. (1950). Roy and Guha (1958) have reported extensive hemorrhage as a manifestation of experimental scurvy in a species of bird known t o require a dietary source of ascorbic acid.Although clinical scurvy in chickens is not known to occur, some recent studies have indicated that the ascorbic acid synthesizing mechanism in the chicken may be inadequate or defective during periods of stress. Ahmad et al. (1967) have shown that dietary ascorbic acid supplementation was of value in counteracting high environmental temperature conditions for laying birds. Challey (1960) reported a marked increase in adrenal ascorbic acid in chickens subjected to experimental hemorrhage and intestinal coccidiosis.…